“There are reasons why conservatives had disagreements with Chris Christie, I don’t think that the tea party is going to seize upon Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge as their defining difference with Christie,” Rove opined. “In fact, I think his handling of this, being straightforward, taking action — saying, ‘I’m responsible’ — firing the people probably gives him some street cred with some tea party Republicans, who say that’s what we want in a leader, somebody who steps up and takes responsibility.”

The scandal doesn’t prove anything one way or the other, except perhaps to confirm what people always suspected about New Jersey politics. Or politics in general — everybody knows it ain’t beanbag. What we do know for sure is that Christie has put himself on a tightrope which the MSM and/or DNC (but I repeat myself) will be happy to knock him off of. There is no net.

Conservatives and Tea Party types would probably help with the push, if it turns out that Christie is lying about not knowing until last week what was going on. But Rove is right when he says it’s not our “defining difference.” Christie is probably as conservative as anyone who could get elected in New Jersey, but unless he and his donor base buy his way to the GOP nomination, he is simply too far to the left to win it. Christie makes Mitt Romney look like Ronald Reagan and that is our defining difference with him.

Stephen Green began blogging at VodkaPundit.com in early 2002, and has served as PJMedia's Denver editor since 2008. He's one of the hosts on PJTV, and one-third of PJTV's Trifecta team with Scott Ott and Bill Whittle. Steve lives with his wife and sons in the hills and woods of Monument, Colorado, where he enjoys the occasional lovely adult beverage.

Rove was prattling on about Scandinavians in middle America appreciating Christie's style -- what was that all about? Poor Karl Rove needs to be sent on an extended Wife Swap field trip so he can begin to understand real Americans instead of gazing at us afar like we're a bunch of lab rats.

'I think his handling of this, being straightforward, taking action — saying, ‘I’m responsible’ — firing the people probably gives him some street cred with some tea party Republicans, who say that’s what we want in a leader"

You think wrong, Karl. The Tea Party wants a leader with conservative values who will go to Washington, and fight the status quo, not preserve it as Christie wants to do. We've had just about enough of your ""go along, to get along" Republicans.

The chief bundler of the GOP Establishment (what Monica Crowley calls the GOPe) annoints Christie as the GOPe Prince. Primary elections will not be required; the only thing left for conservatives is to get behind the GOPe candidates with their votes and their money. It's the only way the Republicans can regain the House and the Senate, don't you know!

Now, about that amnesty for illegals, and the big increase in high tech visas . . . . . . .